Capcom made a surprise announcement: the release of the action game Onimusha: Way of the Sword has been postponed to September 4, 2026. The publisher has decided to release the project three weeks earlier than originally scheduled for September 25. The long-awaited return of the samurai franchise will launch simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, as well as on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store. It seems the Japanese company has decided to get ahead of the game by radically changing its own plans. Incidentally, as recently as June 26, Capcom stood firm, even publishing posters confirming the old date. But market realities forced the company’s leadership to quickly change its tune.
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Why the Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date has changed
The September release schedule has become a veritable meat grinder by the end of the month. Judge for yourself: heavyweights like Silent Hill: Townfall and Control Resonant are scheduled for September 24-25, with Hot Wheels Infinite Rush slated for release next door. Add in the console releases of Dune: Awakening and Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition, and it’s clear there’s nothing to be gained.
Producer Akihito Kadowaki, speaking with VGC, frankly admitted that the team knew about the tight schedule, but only now realized the true scale of the disaster. However, the developer insists they’re confident in their product. They’re banking on the charisma of the protagonist Musashi and a polished combat system featuring Issen’s signature parries. However, pragmatism prevailed: battling with Rebel Wolves’ action game The Blood of Dawnwalker, which hits stores on September 3, is clearly safer than running into tanks at the end of the month.
Plot and Gameplay Features of the New Onimusha
Fans had to wait 20 years for the series’ comeback, as the previous game, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, debuted on the PS2 back in 2006. This time, we’re transported to Edo-period Kyoto, engulfed in darkness and evil. The legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, armed with an artifact called the Oni Glove, will purge the city of Gemma’s demons.
Key Gameplay Features:
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Soul Collection: Absorbing the energy of fallen enemies in the heat of battle restores your health bar and unlocks powerful special moves.
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Combat System: Brutal, timing-sensitive carnage, where the Issen counterattack mechanic plays a key role.
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Duration: Completing the main storyline takes approximately 20 hours.
You can check out the game right now—the free demo is already available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Incidentally, completing the demo comes with a nice bonus: if you transfer your save to the full version, you’ll receive a unique Kubi-Akari amulet at the launch. Capcom itself assures that the delay to the beginning of the month won’t affect the quality of the polish, so we can look forward to early fall.
